and when spring comes so do showers. I usually think of April as having the showers, but we have definitely been a month ahead this year. Don't you just love this sweet spring tote? I won it in a giveaway from one of my favorite bloggers, Kris at Junk Chic Cottage.

I know that most of you know Kris, but if you don't you will want to read her blog. She is on a little break right now, but go on over and read her old posts. The warm weather and all of the rain we are having is greening up our landscape and bringing back the color in the flowers and the trees.The azaleas, here in Kentucky, are beautiful this year.

I was really worried about the weeping cherry trees after the hard freeze we had recently, but they have blossomed and are gorgeous.

I love this view at the Lexington Cemetery. It is one of the most beautiful cemeteries I have ever been in and is where most of my family is buried.I always like to spend a little time talking to my dad when I go. He was so smart and when I am going through difficult times I miss his wisdom. Has spring arrived where you are. I see that some of you still have quite a bit of snow. I hope spring showers wash it away soon.

The other day while visiting some of my favorite blogs, I read a post by Rue of An Old-Fashioned World that really struck a chord with me.

Rue was talking about the importance of just being herself.

The reason it really struck a chord is because I have been feeling a bit down. For the last year I have been very erratic about posting on my blog. To be honest I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to carry on with it.

It's not that I don't like blogging, and I certainly love the friends I have made, but I have just felt that my life is off track. When your life is off track it is hard to find your focus.

I have been wondering if the grass is really greener on the other side.

Here's the thing. I love the apartment I moved into almost a year ago. (yes, it has really been that long) I was so happy to finally have a place of my own, and I am still loving coming home, shutting the door, and knowing that it is mine.

However, I miss my family. My daughters and grandchildren live in Atlanta. It is a long drive, I feel like it is a burden for me to stay with them, and my car is 18 years old.

There is also the fact that my older sister upped and moved to Arizona a month ago, without warning, to live with my younger sister. They left me with the sole responsibility of my mother.

So here is the thing. I feel like it is time for me to focus on what I want. On just being me. On writing what I want. On doing what I want. On living where I want.

Everyone else is doing those things. My mom loves living here and says she will never leave. I however, really don't want to stay. I have a very difficult time getting through the winters.

Do I know exactly what I want? No, but I want to spend some time deciding. I am 66 years old and economically challenged so that limits my choices. However, I have put my name on a waiting list for an apartment in Atlanta. It will be 18 months to two years before I can get in so that will give me time to prepare.

I am also researching places in Arizona in case I decide I want to move there.

Is the grass really greener on the other side? I don't know. What I do know is that life is getting shorter and I want to spend it how and with whom I want.

P.S. I promised to share my healthy eating plan and I will do that next week

Is it just me, or does it seem like there is just more self care required each year that we get older?I can remember breezing through years without visits to the doctor. Now I have to go every six months to my primary care physician. Then there are visits to the dermatologist, the orthopedic doctor, the gynecologist.....

And of course we can't forget the dentist. Aging brings on a host of new dental woes. I remember my dad saying that getting old is not for sissies. Boy was he right, but I also know that over the winter I have let up on my self care.

This morning I sat myself down and said enough with the excuses. It is beyond time to lose those unwanted pounds I accumulated over the last few months.

It is time to get out and get moving again and start back on my healthy eating program. Putting it in writing seems to make it all the more real to me, and so I am going to write out my plan.

I know that I want to be around for many years to come to watch my sweet grandchildren grow. It is definitely an incentive to start taking better care of myself again. How about you? Do you feel that now that spring is actually here you need to make changes and start taking better care of yourself?I would love to hear what you are going to do. Maybe I can incorporate some of your ideas into my own plan?

Spring was in full bloom when I arrived in Atlanta last week.The colors were magnificent.

I had almost forgotten how wonderful the azaleas are in the deep south.

They were everywhere.

The other spring flowers were blooming too. Not sure what these are, but they made the perfect blanket cascading down some stone steps.

The trees were also blooming and were reaching for a gorgeous blue spring sky.

It was perfect until winter came roaring back bringing rain and much colder temperatures. Now I am back home wondering where it went. However, at least we are not suffering the brutal snowstorm that has hit so many of you.Next week spring will officially begin, and I for one can't wait.

No, I am not going to see the wizard, but I am going to see my daughters and grandchildren.

The car is loaded up and tomorrow (Tuesday) I will be heading down to Atlanta. I am driving my sister's SUV and it is filled to the brim. I am taking a large chest of drawers that belonged to my Great Aunt to give to Cary.

My sister has been its caregiver for awhile, but as she has, for all intents and purposes moved to Arizona, it's time for it to move on as well.

There are also a few other odds and ends, but the chest of drawers took up most of the space. There is just enough room left for me and a small suitcase.

What more do I need. My grandchildren don't care what I am wearing. As long as there is lots of hugging and playing that's all the four of us care about.

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